As India prepares for a much-anticipated white-ball tour of Australia, all eyes are on the selection meeting scheduled for October 4, where the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will finalize the squads for the three-match ODI series and the five-match T20I series. However, the meeting isn’t just about selecting players - it’s expected to set the tone for Indian cricket’s future, especially regarding Rohit Sharma’s role in the 50-over format.
Rohit Sharma’s ODI Future on the Line
According to reports from Cricbuzz, the BCCI selectors will have an in-person conversation with Rohit Sharma during the meeting. The veteran opener, who recently passed a fitness test at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, is already 38 and will be 40 by the time the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup in South Africa arrives.
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With Rohit already having retired from T20Is and Test cricket, the question now isn’t just about his captaincy - it's about whether he features in India’s long-term ODI plans as a player at all.
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While the management continues to value Rohit’s experience and leadership, the age factor is impossible to ignore. The decision on whether he remains captain - or even part of the playing XI in the near future - will be one of the biggest talking points of the squad announcement.
Champions Trophy Core Expected to Continue
India’s 2025 Champions Trophy-winning squad is likely to form the core of the team for the ODI series against Australia. Names like Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Ravindra Jadeja are expected to be retained. Despite speculation around their age and future roles, both Rohit and Kohli are expected to be part of the squad for now, bringing vital experience against a strong Australian outfit.
Shreyas Iyer, who missed the Asia Cup earlier this year, is likely to retain his spot in the ODI setup. His return to the T20I setup, however, is still up in the air.
Time for Rotation and Fresh Blood?
With bilateral series allowing for an extended squad (unlike ICC tournaments with a strict 15-player limit), there’s room for experimentation and rotation. Players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer, who missed the Asia Cup, are strong contenders for a T20I comeback.
Suryakumar Yadav is widely expected to captain the T20I side, with Axar Patel as his likely deputy. Young talents like Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma, and Abhishek Sharma are all likely to feature. The selectors are believed to be focused on grooming a core group ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, and this series provides a perfect testing ground.
Also Read: India tour of Australia 2025: New Faces likely in probable ODI and T20I squads